pope benedict resigns on thursday. there has been a change to speed up the process of choosing his successor. we have more in this report. >> reporter: pope benedict xvi signed a special legal document today clearing the way for cardinals to move up the start date of a conclave once the papal seat is vacated. the normal 15-day transition period to start the process to choose a new point was set in 1996 by pope john paul ii and could only be changed by another pope. it was one of pope benedict's last official acts before stepping down thursday. no date has been set for the conclave to begin. >> we can expect that meeting to take place before march 1st. and we have no other information until the cardinals decide in the general congregation when the conclave will come. >> reporter: the date change comes amid the news that there will be one less cardinal voting in the conclave. cardinal keith o'brien of scotland is retiring and will not be attending. his resignation as archbishop of st. andrew's was required because he is